CECC reports four more Taoyuan cases
VIGILANCE: While two of the cases are family members of a nurse, there is no sign of community spread and the source of infection is identifiable, the CECC said
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported four new domestic COVID-19 cases associated with a cluster infection at a Taoyuan hospital.
Since the first case was identified on Tuesday last week, five healthcare workers two doctors and three nurses at the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Taoyuan General Hospital have tested positive for the virus.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said that two of the four new cases are the husband and daughter of a nurse (case No. 863) who had earlier been confirmed to have COVID-19.
CECC advises canceling large holiday events
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) strongly advises event organizers to postpone or cancel large public events if they cannot strictly conduct a risk assessment and make a comprehensive plan for implementing disease prevention measures, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said yesterday.
As the Lunar New Year holiday is approaching and many celebrations are being prepared, the CECC must remind people to remain vigilant, said Chen, who heads the center.
“Mass gatherings are usually packed with large crowds for extended periods, and people can easily come into close contact with other people, so there is a high risk of disease transmission,” Chen said. “COVID-19 prevention would become highly difficult if a suspected case or a cluster of infections occurs at one of the events.”
2021/01/18 10:34 People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk in Taipei, Dec. 29. People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk in Taipei, Dec. 29. (AP photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A Taiwanese doctor has cautioned against engaging in a witch-hunt and piling blame on medical staff after a hospital in northern Taiwan reported domestic COVID-19 cases. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) confirmed on Monday (Jan. 18) that at least two doctors and two nurses have tested positive for coronavirus in the hospital cluster infections that broke out earlier this month. The incident has sparked nationwide fear amid online rumors and accusations about breached protocols in COVID patients treatment.
2021/01/18 15:56 Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare. (medicaltravel.org.tw photo) Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare. (medicaltravel.org.tw photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A week after announcing the first nosocomial Wuhan coronavirus infection of a health worker in many months, the head of Taiwan s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) inadvertently revealed the name of the hospital, before officially acknowledging it. On Jan. 12, Health Minister and Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) head Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) announced that a doctor and a nurse from a hospital in northern Taiwan had tested positive for COVID-19. That same day, the CECC issued a preliminary list of locations where the two had recently visited.